Food for Peace FACT SHEET MALAWI

The program's contribution breakdown for fiscal years 2007 to 2009 indicates a significant allocation of resources towards addressing the issue. In fiscal year 2009, the program contributed $8.7 million, which translated to 10,410 metric tons of food assistance. This is a decrease from the $17.9 million and 17,120 metric tons provided in fiscal year 2008. The program's focus is on providing assistance to 198,696 food-insecure Malawians, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children under the age of 5, orphans, and people living with HIV. The program's implementing partner is a Catholic Relief Services-led consortium. The targeted beneficiaries include households that are struggling to access food due to various factors, including poor crop production, high local market maize prices, and intermittent supplies. The program's current projects focus on integrated livelihood activities, including agricultural and microenterprise development, as well as community health outreach and safety net food rations for vulnerable households. Additionally, the program is investing in district and community capacity building and improved accountability. The project locations include Dedza, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mchinji, Ntcheu, Phalombe, and Thyolo. The food security situation in Malawi is precarious, with prolonged dry spells in the Lower Shire districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa causing severe damage to crops. Local market maize prices have begun to show signs of stabilization, but high prices still prevent many poor households from accessing enough maize, particularly in the south. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (www.fews.net) has reported that the area is likely to face food insecurity during the 2009-2010 marketing season.